Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- The 14th-rated Minnesota State men's basketball team did not miss a step in its return to the court Friday evening as it downed the St. Cloud State Huskies 97-77 at Taylor Center.

With the win, MSU improved to 12-2 on the season, including a 6-1 mark in league action. With the loss, SCSU fell to 8-3, including a 4-3 mark in NSIC play.

Several Mavericks made their presence felt all night long including senior Gage Wooten, who established a career-high of 25 points, to go along with five rebounds. He also shot the lights out as he connected on 11-of-12 shots from the field, including a mark of 3-of-4 from behind the arc.

Junior Zach Monaghan dropped in 21 points, to go along with a game-high nine assists and three steals, while junior Assem Marei added 17 points, seven rebounds, while matching his career-high with four blocks.

As a unit, the Mavericks shot 33-of-59 (.559) from the field, including a sizzling 17-of-22 (.773) showing in the second half, which consisted of a perfect 6-of-6 effort from beyond the three point line. MSU also brought down 37 rebounds, passed 20 assists and posted 10 steals.

Matt Craggs led the Huskie offense with 19 points.

The first half remained competitive through the whole 20 minutes as neither team led by more than eight points as the lead changed hands seven times. With 11:02 left in the first, SCSU led by five at 24-19, only to see the Mavericks finish the first half on a 26-10 run to take a 45-40 lead into the locker room.

Wooten led all scorers in the first half, as he dropped in 13 points, while shooting 6-of-7 from the field. Monaghan added 12 points and six helpers, while Marei recorded eight points, five rebounds and three blocks.

As a unit, the Mavericks connected on 16-of-37 (.432) shots from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-14 (.429) from three point land.

Damarius Cruz and Craggs led the Huskie offense in the first half with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

MSU quickly built a double-digit lead in the second half and would not look back as it outscored SCSU 52-37, en route to a 97-77 victory.

The Mavericks wrap up their homestand Saturday as they take on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The opening tip is set for 6 p.m.
                                                                                   -30-